Denmark Reviews Legal Basis for Nationwide Ban on Loudspeaker Call to Prayer

The Danish government is set to begin a legal review into the possibility of banning the broadcast of the Islamic call to prayer (adhan) over loudspeakers from mosques nationwide.

Government officials said the review will examine whether such a ban would be compatible with Denmark’s Constitution and existing laws.

Government representative and Social Democrats leader Morten Bødskov said the call to prayer should not be heard over loudspeakers across Denmark and that the government would assess whether there is a legal basis for introducing such a restriction. He argued that the country’s public sphere is being increasingly influenced by what he described as “Islamisation.”

According to a report by the London-based GB News, this is the third time a Danish immigration minister has publicly sought to establish a legal basis for restricting loudspeaker broadcasts of the adhan. Similar initiatives were launched in 2020 and 2025.

In Islam, the adhan is traditionally broadcast from mosque minarets five times a day to call worshippers to prayer. However, in parts of Denmark, particularly in the capital Copenhagen, local noise regulations prohibit outdoor loudspeaker broadcasts. Copenhagen’s Grand Mosque also refrains from broadcasting the adhan outdoors under an agreement with local authorities.

Legal experts say implementing a nationwide ban could face constitutional challenges, as authorities would need to balance public interest with the constitutional protection of religious freedom. Denmark’s Constitution guarantees the right to public religious worship, although certain exceptions apply in cases involving anti-democratic activities or the financing of banned organizations.